unplug your mouse workflow automation with a uto h ot k ey

Unplug Your MouseWorkflow Automation

with AutoHotKey

Andrew WeidnerRobert Wilson

Mice make simple things easyand complex things impossible.

Mice make simple things easyand complex things impossible.

Mice are useful and fun, but they tend toslow down repetitive file management tasks.

Do things faster with your keyboard.

Keyboard Optimization: why type fifty-two keys when you can do the same thing with two?

(Ctrl + 4)

Overview

• Keyboard Shortcuts• AutoHotkey Scripts• Tools & References• Demonstration

Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Explorer

Tab = cycle fields (add Shift to reverse)Alt + Tab = application switcherEnter = open selected file/folderBackspace = return to parent folderAlt + F + M = rename selected file/folder (also F2)Alt + F + W + F = create a new folderHome/End = go to first/last file

Keyboard Shortcuts

ACDSee Viewer

Page Down = next imagePage Up = previous image(NumPad) * = fit image to window(NumPad) + = zoom in(NumPad) - = zoom outArrow Keys = move around the imageHome/End = go to first/last image

Keyboard Shortcuts

Mozilla Firefox

Ctrl + T = open new tabCtrl + Tab = cycle tabs (add Shift to reverse)Alt + Left = go to previous page (also Backspace)Ctrl + L = focus on address barTab = cycle links (add Shift to reverse)Arrow Keys = scroll through the pageCtrl + B = show/hide bookmarks sidebar

AutoHotkey Scripts

Simple: another Enter key

; plain text file with .AHK extension; comments begin with a semicolon

; define the hotkey: Alt + a!a::; define the actionSend, {Enter}

AutoHotkey Scripts

Simple: type some text

; hotkey: Ctrl + 1^1::

; use the ` symbol before a literal comma; `n inserts a new line, `t inserts a tabSend, Sincerely`,`n`t

AutoHotkey Scripts

Complex: create a folder

; hotkey: Win + k#k::Send, {AltDown}f{AltUp}Sleep, 200Send, wSleep, 200Send, f

AutoHotkey Scripts

Complex: rename a file

; hotkey: Ctrl + Alt + r^!r::Send, {F2}Sleep, 200Send, {Home}Sleep, 200Send, 2013

AutoHotkey Scripts

Complex: paste a file in multiple folders

Pause::Pause ; pause script with the Pause key!v::Send, {CtrlDown}v{CtrlUp}sleep, 400Loop {

Send, {Backspace}Sleep, 1400Send, {Down}Sleep, 400Send, {Enter}Sleep, 800Send, {CtrlDown}v{CtrlUp}Sleep, 400}

AutoHotkey Scripts

Complex: open with Photoshop

NumpadDot & NumpadEnter::ClipMem = %Clipboard% ; save current clipboard valueclipboard = Send, ^c ; copy the file nameClipWait; insert the file name at the end of the Photoshop Run commandRun, C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5 (64 Bit)\Photoshop.exe %clipboard%clipboard = %ClipMem% ; restore the original clipboard valueReturn

AutoHotkey Scripts

Application: ETD_Metadata

Finds keywords in author-provided metadataand enters them in an XML file.

ETD Metadata: Part 1

#Home::DefinedAddress = DefinedKeywords = KeywordMeta = Clipboard =SendInput, {F4}{ControlDown}a{ControlUp}sleep, 200Send ^cClipWaitSleep, 100DefinedAddress = %clipboard%

SetWorkingDir, %DefinedAddress%Run, Wordpad.exe index.docxWinWaitActive, index

Open author-provided metadata

Declare blank variables for future use

Copy file path

Assign file path to variable

Open index.docx file in Wordpad

ETD Metadata: Part 2

Keywords:Sleep, 100clipboard = SendInput, {CtrlDown}f{CtrlUp}WinWaitActive, FindSleep, 100SendInput, KeywordsSleep, 100SendInput, {Enter}{Esc}Sleep, 100SendInput, {Tab}Send ^cClipWaitDefinedKeywords = %clipboard%

Function title

Open Find dialog

Type ‘Keywords’

Copy text Store text in variable for later use

Find Keywords

ETD Metadata: Part 3

/* Comma + space occurrences in DefinedKeywords variable are replacedwith Tab so keywords are sent to appropriate fields later */StringReplace, DefinedKeywords, DefinedKeywords, `,%A_Space%, %a_tab%, all

; create window for keyword input, separated into individual variablesKeywordWindow: Gui, 30:+AlwaysOnTop Gui, 30:Add, Text, x6 y6 w100, Keyword1: Gui, 30:Add, Edit, x6 y+5 w100 vKeyword1

Gui, 30:Add, Text, x6 y6 w100, Keyword2: Gui, 30:Add, Edit, x6 y+5 w100 vKeyword2; code repeats to Keyword10

Create GUI for Keyword Input

ETD Metadata: Part 4

; submit each field as a defined variable: Keyword1-10

Gui, 30:Add, Button, x6 default, OK Gui, 30:Show,, Keywords

Sleep, 100WinActivate, KeywordsSendInput, %DefinedKeywords%Sleep, 100

30GuiClose:30ButtonOK:Gui, 30:Submit

Send Keywords

Create OK Button

Send formatted keywords

Close Window

ETD Metadata: Part 5

IfExist, C:\Program Files\jEdit\jedit.exeRun, C:\Program Files\jEdit\jedit.exe metadata.xml

ElseRun, C:\Program Files\jEdit\jedit.bat metadata.xml

WinWait, jEditSleep, 1000

SendInput, ^{Home}Sleep, 200

Send, {ControlDown}f{ControlUp}Sleep, 200

Open Metadata XML File Open metadata.xml in jEdit (.exe or .bat)

Wait for jEdit to load the file

Move to top of file

Open Search window

Wait for Search window to open

Search for ‘#Keywordmeta’

Close Search window‘#Keywordmeta’ is highlighted

ETD Metadata: Part 6Prepare for Keyword EntryWinWait, Search And Replace, IfWinNotActive, Search And Replace, , WinActivate, Search And Replace, WinWaitActive, Search And Replace, SendInput, {#}{ShiftDown}k{ShiftUp}eywordmeta{Enter}Sleep, 200SendInput, {Esc}

Types ‘#Keywordmeta’

ETD Metadata: Part 7

If (Keyword1 <> "")SendInput, <subject qualifier="KWD">%Keyword1%</subject>Sleep, 100If (Keyword2 <> "")SendInput, `r<subject qualifier="KWD">%Keyword2%</subject>Sleep, 100; code repeats to Keyword10

Enter Keywords Send keywords stored in

variables (IF they exist!)

Tools & References

• AutoHotkey Recorder: produces script code• Mobile AutoHotkey: use on any Windows system• AutoIt Window Spy: screen coordinates & title info• Website: www.autohotkey.com• Documentation: www.autohotkey.com/docs• Forum: www.autohotkey.com/board

Demonstration

• ETD_Metadata (rw)

• SuperPaste (rw)

• OpenWithPhotoshop (rw)

• TDNP_Microfilm (aw)

• NewspaperNotes (aw)

• DashboardTools (aw)